Commissioning Officer

Birmingham City Council; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Birmingham City Council invites applications for a Commissioning Officer role focused on Children & Families commissioning, including the HAF programme, SEND and Inclusion, and Birmingham Virtual School. The post emphasizes co-production with children, young people and families to ensure high-quality services and robust governance.

You will work with partners such as Birmingham Children’s Trust and NHS, analysing data to inform decisions and supporting contract monitoring and QA processes.

Qualifications

• Experience across the commissioning cycle and ability to build relationships with stakeholders.
• Experience engaging with children, young people and families in service quality processes.
• Ability to collect, input, and interpret data to inform commissioning decisions.

Responsibilities

• Contribute meaningfully to commissioning plans that improve outcomes.
• Support delivery of strategic commissioning across Children & Families including the HAF programme, SEND and Inclusion, Birmingham Virtual School.
• Build strong, productive relationships with stakeholders and providers.
• Collaborate with internal teams, Birmingham Children’s Trust, NHS partners and providers to shape services for children and families.
• Monitor data to inform performance and statutory returns.
• Support high-quality service delivery through co-production and quality assurance, including contract monitoring visits.
• Demonstrate professionalism, strong governance and continuous improvement.
• Exhibit strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Engage confidently with providers, partners, and families across audiences.

Skills

Commissioning cycle experience

Stakeholder management

Co-production experience

Data analysis

Communication skills

Job description

The Commissioning Officer role is key to supporting the delivery of a variety of commissioning programmes on behalf of the Council, linked to services for children and families in the city. We are looking for someone with experience in all aspects of the commissioning cycle, who is able to build and maintain productive relationships with key stakeholders, to deliver excellent outcomes for our children and families. You will be supported to build on your experience of co-production, including working with, and supporting, children's young people and families to participate in the quality assurance of commissioned services. This role will primarily support delivery of Holiday and Activities Food Programme (HAF), SEND and Inclusion and Birmingham Virtual School commissioning activities. However, may be required to work within any area of the team's delivery including across Public Health funded 0-19 Healthy Child Programme and Best Start in Life Family Hub commissioning activities.

• Contribute meaningfully to commissioning plans that improve outcomes
• Support the delivery of strategic commissioning intentions and delegated activities across Children & Families, including the HAF programme, SEND and Inclusion, Birmingham Virtual School, health, wellbeing and prevention services such as the 0-19 Healthy Child Programme and Best Start in Life Family Hubs
• Build strong, productive relationships with stakeholders and providers
• Work closely with internal teams, Birmingham Children’s Trust, NHS partners, and a wide range of providers to shape services that meet the needs of children, young people and families
• Collect, input, analyse and interpret data to inform commissioning decisions, performance management and statutory returns
• Support high-quality service delivery through co-production and quality assurance, including undertaking contract monitoring visits
• Demonstrate professionalism, strong governance and continuous improvement.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Someone who engages confidently with providers, partners, children and families, adapting your style to different audiences
• Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people. We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application., Working for Birmingham City Council is more than just a job; it's about making life better for the 1 million plus people who live and work in the city., The Council is a fantastic place to work. You will find an organisation that is both challenging and supportive; with a leadership impatiently adventurous in its pursuit of excellence. There is a clear vision which is ensuring that the Council is working for communities today and building for tomorrow, we focus our resources on five key priorities:
• A Prosperous Birmingham: through a focus on inclusive economic growth, tackling unemployment, attracting inward investment, and maximising the benefits of the Commonwealth Games.
• An Inclusive Birmingham: through a focus on tackling poverty and inequality, empowering citizens, promoting diversity and civic pride, and supporting and enabling all children and young people to thrive.
• A Safe Birmingham: through a focus on making the city safer, safeguarding vulnerable citizens, increasing affordable housing, and tackling homelessness.
• A Healthy Birmingham: through a focus on tackling health inequalities, encouraging physical activity and healthy living, supporting mental health, and improving outcomes for adults with disabilities and older people.
• A Green Birmingham: through a focus on street cleanliness, improving air quality, continuing the route to net zero, and becoming a city of nature.

We see the Council's role as providing strategic leadership - that's being able to visualise a new future for the city and equipping others to share our vision. We want to ensure the provision of services for all, so we can support those least able to support themselves by working with partners and putting citizens and neighbourhoods at the heart of our decision-making. We are always looking for people who put the customer at the centre of their approach, with a commitment to excellence to help us achieve our vision. We will support you to develop and thrive in your role, building a pathway for long-term success, with lots of development opportunities, such as apprenticeships.

In return, we offer you excellent terms and conditions, generous annual leave, a great pension scheme, well-being support, annual travel passes and discounts at a number of city centre establishments.